成功没有捷径 你做好长期奋斗的准备了吗？

 　　So many people are in such a hurry to success that they eagerly take any shortcuts¹ that come across their way. In reality, shortcuts usually lead to disappointments rather than quicker success. The key to any long-term success is to take the necessary steps to steadily² progress rather than skip any of them. This would be true whether the goals are financial or health or relationship related.

　　太多人急着想要成功，总是希望途中能走捷径。但在现实中，捷径往往只会带来失望而非瞬间成功。长久成功的关键是踏实走好所必须的每一步，而不是敷衍了事。不论你的目标是有关经济的、健康的还是人际关系的，这一点都确凿无疑。

　　I’ve seen gullible³ people buy into the many ‘get rich quick’ or ‘lose weight fast’ schemes out there only to find out that none of them work except in relieving you of the money paid for such products or programs. A friend of mine even bought one of those home devices that electronically stimulate⁴ belly⁵ muscle contractions⁶ thinking that weight lost is possible while watching TV. This friend, who did not want to put in the work of exercising in a gym, is still overweight today.

　　我遇见过不少轻信“一夜致富”或“快速减肥”的人，最后发现他们除了在类似产品或活动上浪费大把钞票外，什么收获也没有。我有个朋友甚至买过一种能电动刺激腹部收缩的家用仪器，自以为可以趁看电视的功夫就成功减肥。然而，这个不愿去健身房运动的朋友，至今也还是没能减肥。

　　Shortcuts can result in loss of success

　　捷径会导致错失成功

　　As a certified⁷ ski instructor⁸, I’ve seen many beginners who try to come down slopes that they are clearly not ready for. Such folks have not reached a level where they can consistently stop and turn on their skis while even on the bunny hill yet. For some reason, these same people ventured onto steeper slopes serviced by chairlifts and they end up frozen stiff with fear at the top.

　　作为一名资历滑雪教练，我见过不少初学者跃跃欲试那种他们显然还不够资格的滑坡。这些人在小斜坡上甚至都还无法熟练刹车和转弯，可出于某种心理，他们却总是冒险搭乘升降机到陡峭的山坡上去，然后又在坡顶上吓得哆哆嗦嗦。

　　I’ve had to physically⁹ climb back up a slope to rescue such novice¹⁰ skiers by holding them all the way safely back down the hill. Imagine how embarrassing this must be for an adult as this is how we usually start little three or four year-olds on the bunny hill.

　　结果我只好亲自爬到坡上去解困，一路拉着这些幼稚的滑雪家伙安全下坡。想想这对成年人来说该有多么尴尬吧，三四岁的时候就在小斜坡上练习过的呀！

　　If they do manage to start coming down on their own, they will usually panic, lose their focus and end up going straight down the hill with increasing speed. Of course a ‘yard sale’ (a ski phrase which describes a fallen skier¹¹ with skis and poles ending up all over the slope) will be the result.

　　要是他们确实能够自己滑下来，通常也会变得六神无主，完全任凭加速度笔直地冲下来。当然，后果就是“横七竖八”，整个坡上连人带板摔得到处都是。

　　We always tell beginners that they must be completely comfortable in making solid turns and stops on a bunny hill before going onto slopes serviced by chairlifts. This is achieved only by extra practice outside of lesson time. But some are just impatient and decide to go on the chairlifts anyway before they are proficient¹² on the easier slopes.

　　我们总是告诫初学者：只有先在小斜坡上能够熟练自如地刹车和转弯，然后才能搭乘升降机尝试陡峭山坡。而且这也需要在课外多加练习才行。但有些人就是不耐烦，一意孤行地选择先搭升降机去陡峭山坡，就算还没在小斜坡上滑熟练也无所谓。

　　They thought that they could take shortcuts and bypass the steps required. Imagine the shock when they realize that even the easier slopes serviced by the chairlifts are way beyond their abilities and comfort levels when they are looking down these larger hills compared to the relatively¹³ flat bunny slopes.

　　他们以为可以跳过部分规定的步骤转而选取捷径。但当搭乘升降机到达比较容易的山坡时，他们却发现自己根本就没有那个胆量和能力，再回头看看那些相对平坦的小斜坡，想想他们该有多么震惊吧！

　　Unfortunately, some of these beginners may never put on skis again because of their terrifying experiences. This is a real shame since they did make the initial efforts to come out to try skiing as a way to embrace winter. If they do come back to try again, sometimes it is the following winter when they have already loss the momentum¹⁴ of any progress as they have forgotten the basic skills.

　　糟糕的是，有些初学者会因为可怕的经历而再也不愿踏上滑板。这可真够丢脸的：毕竟，他们为了享受冬季已经尝试过滑雪了。如果他们确实准备回来再次尝试，有时也是来年冬天了，这时他们几乎忘了基本技巧，也很难取得进步了。

　　The shortcuts they thought they could get away with resulted in a loss of success. These poor folks usually have to start all over again from scratch in terms of learning how to ski even the bunny hills. Their initial fears will take twice as much work to get over compared to those who did not take shortcuts in their learning.

　　他们原本以为的捷径却只会让他们错失成功。这些可怜的家伙往往只能从头开始再学一遍如何在小斜坡上滑雪。相比那些开始就没走捷径的人，他们的恐惧感会让他们更加事倍功半。

　　Take the same steps as other successful people have done

　　像其他成功的人一样循序渐进

　　Although it is wise to get proper coaching, instruction and mentoring¹⁵ for your goals, these are not considered shortcuts. They are just more efficient ways to learn the skills required for success. However, time with a coach or instructor does not replace the steps one must take in order to be successful.

　　虽然为了达成目标而选择合适的教练和指导比较明智，但这些并不算是“捷径”。这些只是掌握成功所需技巧的更有效的方法而已。不过，跟随教练或指导员并不表示你可以忽略成功所必须的那些步骤。

　　You still have to do your part of the work whether it’s working out at the gym, building wealth, starting a new relationship or practicing your ski turns on the bunny hill. The bottom line is that there are no true shortcuts to real success.

　　你仍然需要做好分内之事——去健身房锻炼，累积财富、建立新的人际关系或在小斜坡上练习滑雪转弯。底线在于，真正的成功是没有捷径的。

　　Many of the goals we want to achieve have already been achieved by countless¹⁶ numbers of other people. Follow their examples and take the same type of steps they had to take in order to be successful. Each step is very much like a little success on its own and little successes do add up. Pay your dues to steadily develop towards success rather than take detours¹⁷ on shortcuts that can actually set you back.

　　我们想要实现的目标中，有很多都是其他人已经实现了的。如果想要成功，那就以那些人为榜样，采取同样的步骤吧。每一步都是一次小小的成功，而小成功就能汇集成大成功。请脚踏实地去争取成功，而不要选择实际上会拖后腿的弯路或捷径！

1 shortcuts   

n.捷径( shortcut的名词复数 )；近路；快捷办法；被切短的东西（尤指烟草）

参考例句：

• In other words, experts want shortcuts to everything. 换句话说，专家需要所有的快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Offer shortcuts from the Help menu. 在帮助菜单中提供快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

2 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

3 gullible   

adj.易受骗的；轻信的

参考例句：

• The swindlers had roped into a number of gullible persons.骗子们已使一些轻信的人上了当。
• The advertisement is aimed at gullible young women worried about their weight.这则广告专门针对担心自己肥胖而易受骗的年轻女士。

4 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

5 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

6 contractions   

n.收缩( contraction的名词复数 )；缩减；缩略词；（分娩时）子宫收缩

参考例句：

• Contractions are much more common in speech than in writing. 缩略词在口语里比在书写中常见得多。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Muscle contractions are powered by the chemical adenosine triphosphate(ATP ). 肌肉收缩是由化学物质三磷酸腺苷(ATP)提供动力的。 来自辞典例句

7 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

8 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

9 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

10 novice   

adj.新手的，生手的

参考例句：

• As a novice writer,this is something I'm interested in.作为初涉写作的人，我对此很感兴趣。
• She realized that she was a novice.她知道自己初出茅庐。

11 skier   

n.滑雪运动员

参考例句：

• She is a skier who is unafraid of danger.她是一名敢于冒险的滑雪者。
• The skier skimmed across the snow.滑雪者飞快地滑过雪地。

12 proficient   

adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家

参考例句：

• She is proficient at swimming.她精通游泳。
• I think I'm quite proficient in both written and spoken English.我认为我在英语读写方面相当熟练。

13 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

14 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

15 mentoring   

n.mentoring是一种工作关系。mentor通常是处在比mentee更高工作职位上的有影响力的人。他/她有比‘mentee’更丰富的工作经验和知识，并用心支持mentee的职业（发展）。v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• One of the most effective instruments for coaching and mentoring is the "role rehearsal" . 辅导和教学的最有效的手段之一是“角色排练。” 来自辞典例句
• Bell Canada called their mentoring system a buddy-buddy system. 加拿大贝尔公司称他们的训导系统是伙伴—伙伴系统。 来自互联网

16 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

17 detours   

绕行的路( detour的名词复数 )； 绕道，兜圈子

参考例句：

• Local wars and bandits often blocked their travel, making countless detours necessary. 内战和盗匪也常阻挡他们前进，迫使他们绕了无数弯路。
• Could it be that all these detours had brought them to Moshi Pass? 难道绕来绕去，绕到磨石口来了吗？ 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子